So......

I'm in the middle of getting a replacement xmsn pan gasket because of a defective one I ordered. In the mean time I also decided to replace all of my accessory belts a couple days ago. ( timing belt was done about 4k ago before I owned the car) she ran fine before this undertaking. Currently she is really low on tranny fluid due to the leak from the faulty gasket, but I went to start it up so icould drive up on the ramps. (I don't have a jack or stands) and she no starts.

When I turn the key on, I can hear the pump in the engine bay humming softly, and when I crank, it cranks right up and catches off the starter but then instantly dies. I can't get it to go any more than that. I initially thought it was out of gas, added more and tried again with same result. Fuel level is about 1/4 full. The tank pump activates during start sequence and stops. I removed the fuel pump relay cover to observe the relay switching, which it does. I also unplugged it and jumped the red to red-yellow wires to be sure, and I can definitely hear both pumps running, but no change in symptom. All fuses in the fuse panel are brand new as of one month ago. In the process I also cleaned the entire terminal block.

Next, I checked for spark, and it's there all the way to the spark plug ends, also the plug ends are wet. I cleaned and reseated all connectors I could find related to ignition and fuel. Then I disconnected the out flow line on the fuel filter mounted to the firewall. I got a small bubble of fuel leakage, then upturned the filter to reveal clear beautiful gasoline pouring out. I wasn't able to budge the in flow line. I thought I could disconnect that one, activate the pump, and observe the fuel before it got to the filter, possibly revealing poor flow or dirty rusty fuel.

The rotor and cap, coil, and plug wires are all brand new installed by a shop 2 months ago. Previous to these new parts, there was a (ballast resistor? I was told) sitting next to the coil. It's still there but it's not hooked up anymore, the tech telling me that the new coil didn't need it. Being brand new to this game then I just said ok. But I still wonder about that. It only has one wire and a spade connector coming off it. But like i said everything ran fine before I did this belt change, which had me taking off the power steering pump and alternator as I replaced all the mount bushings. I did find a small vacuum line that was disconnected behind and below the distributor (surely my fault) but reconnecting that didn't help either.

The engine wire harness is definitely something on my list of things to replace. It's pretty shoddy. The two grey plugs on the firewall have several bare wires showing and the rest looks like if I touch it, it will crumble to pieces. Same goes for the alternator area. Those wires are even worse...the fuel pressure sensor ( I believe, above alternator ?) wiring is completely bare with a few strands broken, and the alternator's small spade connector wire looks the same. The harness run below the crank is extremely brittle and stiff. None of the wires that I can see appear to be touching each other, and I have jiggled them and moved them numerous times hoping for a change, but nothing. I know there could be massive problems under the harness wraps though.

I apologize for the long post, I just wanted to be as clear as possible on what I've done so far and the current state of the car. It's not a beater by any means, and the engine bay is pretty clean, but it has some gremlins lurking deep.

She has 108k miles and ran great prior to this no start and there were no impending signs. I'm pretty sure it's something I did, since my hands were all in there deep. I must have jostled something or knocked something around and shorted it, the dying engine harness exacerbating any problem.

I also have been unable to find any green books on fuel system. I did read through the CIS book but it didn't really seem to help me much.

Thank you so much in advance for any and all input!